“I can think of nobody who is more qualified than Gary Locke,” said Obama on March 9. “More than 100 years ago, Gary’s grandfather left China on a steamship bound for America, where he worked as a domestic servant in Washington state. A century later, his grandson will return to China as America’s top diplomat.”

Locke is the first Chinese American to serve the post.

I also like this quote from the WSJ because even though it's something we already know, maybe other people will keep on hearing and understanding that while you can love and respect your Mother Land and ancestry, that doesn't mean you're secretly going to be pro-Mother Land while you try and take down you're own country from the inside -- especially if you're Asian American.

In a recent speech, Mr. Locke indicated that he would not let the prospects for sales outweigh other U.S. concerns, warning that China has backtracked on its promises to make the country more friendly to foreign businesses.

Getting an invite to New York City is usually a good sign for “Project Runway” cast members, but designers of season nine found out that making it to the Big Apple would not guarantee a spot on the show.

This season 20 fashion hopefuls were surprised to face an elimination on the first episode, “Road to the Runway,” where four designers were sent packing. The special casting episode will air July 28 on Lifetime and precedes the premiere where the eclectic group of designers will tackle their first challenge using their pajamas.

Anya Ayoung-Chee, 29, and David Chum, 29, were among the 20 designers who fought to land a spot on the show after a surprise casting cut.

Ayoung-Chee, former Miss Trinidad and Tobago who is half Chinese, says she draws on the Caribbean as inspiration for her clothing line Pilar, which was named after her brother who died at 18 in a car accident.

Chum, was born to two Cambodian immigrants who fled the genocide to resettle in the United States. Before “Project Runway” Chum balanced working at a Boston, Mass.-based restaurant and his clothing line, Selahdor.

Who will be cut on the first episode? Neither Ayoung-Chee nor Chum would divulge any secrets. But the Pacific Citizen caught up with the contestants to get the inside scoop on season nine as they anxiously await the “Project Runway” premiere.

By now you know what to do and just in case you might have forgotten that means pick up tickets, support APIA artists and check out some great talent.

Kollaboration New York's 2011 lineup will feature some of the best Asian American performers this great city has to offer. The competitors reflect the amazing diversity of the New York area and we truly want to spotlight their talents to our audience in the coming weeks. As an added bonus, the winner of this year's Kollaboration New York will open for rising singer and songwriter Clara C. at her show at the Highline Ballroom!

East West Players, the nation's largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work and the longest-running professional theatre of color in the country, announces Face of the Future, a playwriting competition with cash prizes awarded to the top three plays, including $5,000 for the first place winner, $2,500 for second place, and $1,000 for third place. All winners will be considered for workshop and/or production at East West Players. This year, the focus is on the exploration of the reality of multicultural America from an Asian American perspective. For instance, subject matter might include, but not limited to, biracial or multiracial identity, clashes or collaborations between cultures, or international/transnational storylines.

East West Players is an Asian American theatre organization in Los Angeles, founded in 1965. As the leading Asian American theatre organization, East West Players produce works and educational programs that give voice to the Asian Pacific American experience.

“Through Face of the Future, East West Players hopes to encourage more stories with Asian American themes and characters,” says EWP Producing Artistic Director, Tim Dang. “As we move into a more multiracial and global society, it is important to process the many levels and complexities of stories in our lives. We continue to encourage comedies as Asian American theatre works to balance an overwhelming majority of dramas. Our audiences also ask for more humor in their lives as a diversion from serious world events. We want everyone with ideas exploring these themes to submit their play.”

East West Players previously held a competition in 2008 called Pacific Century. The winners of Pacific Century included S. Vasanti Saxena for SUN SISTERS, Philip W. Chung for MY MAN KONO, and Michael Golamco for YEAR ZERO.

Submissions will be accepted through August 31, 2011. Notification of winners will take place in February 2012. Submissions must be original, unproduced full-length plays or musicals. Translations or adaptations will not be accepted. Submissions must have Asian Pacific American themes and/or characters as the primary focus. All genres are welcome, comedies are encouraged. Plays should require no more than 5-7 actors. Musicals should require no more than 10-12 actors. The story should be told in less than 2.5 hours (including a 15-minute intermission) and must be accessible to a primarily English-speaking audience. East West

Players must have the first option to produce.

All submissions must include a $20 entry fee with the Face of the Future entry form which can be found at www.eastwestplayers.org/arts_education/literary_competitions.htm. Submissions should be mailed to FACE OF THE FUTURE Playwriting Competition, 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. For additional information, please contact Literary Manager Jeff Liu at 213.625.7000 x27 or JLiu@EastWestPlayers.org.

NAPABA Applauds the Nomination of Professor Goodwin Liu To The California Supreme Court

WASHINGTON - Today, California Governor Jerry Brown nominated Professor Goodwin H. Liu to become a Justice of the California Supreme Court. Governor Brown's choice continues his strong belief in diversity. During his first Gubernatorial Administration from 1975 to 1983, Governor Brown appointed the first African American to the California Supreme Court (Justice Wiley Manuel, 1977), the first female and first female Chief Justice to the California Supreme Court (Chief Justice Rose Bird, 1977), the first Hispanic American to the California Supreme Court (Justice Cruz Reynoso, 1982), and the first openly gay judge to any court nationwide (Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Stephen Lachs, 1979). Professor Liu is the first Asian Pacific American state high court nomination by Governor Brown."Governor Brown once again has demonstrated his commitment to diversity by nominating Professor Liu," stated Paul O. Hirose, president of National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. "Professor Liu is an exceptional attorney who is well-respected by lawyers across the country. His intellect and integrity will add to the prestige of the California Supreme Court."

Professor Liu is a tenured professor of law at the University of California Berkeley School of Law, where he has taught since 2003. He received his undergraduate degree from Stanford University, was a Fulbright Scholar at Oxford University, and received his law degree from Yale University School of Law. His long list of accolades includes, among other things, service on the Stanford University Board of Trustees and as a member of the American Law Institute. Professor Liu's interest in public service and the law was sparked when he served as a page in the U.S. House of Representatives, thanks to the sponsorship of the late Congressman Robert Matsui.NAPABA applauds Governor Brown for nominating Professor Liu and looks forward to his expeditious confirmation.

And it does make a good argument for not giving in to the Asian Ching Chong Self Hating Stereotypes because when something gets some attention - everyone else wants to follow along and we all suffer because of it.

For showbiz newcomer Ki Hong Lee avoiding being pigeonholed as the geeky Asian American on TV was on his mind when he landed his first major role.

When the Korean American got the part of Paul on ABC Family’s “The Nine Lives of Chloe King,” he was careful not to play in to geek stereotypes by opting to wear his contacts instead of his glasses, among other things.

But Lee had nothing to worry about.

“When I first got it [the role] the description of him was kind of this comic book fan and when you first read that you think he’s a geek. So I was really worried like, ‘Are they going to dress me up nerdy?’” Lee said via telephone from Los Angeles, Calif. “But they’ve done a good job of showing different layers of the character.”

This is just messed the fuck up because we don't even know what really happened and I'm not saying Kevin Kennelly wasn't trying to step on in - but if all his friends were harassing Korean American Adoptee James Kieffer Malecek's little Korean sister (for wearing a red, white, and blue bandanna - because you know - you can't wear it if you're not White) - there's some doubt there that he was actually jumping on in to break it up versus help his friend.

But involuntary manslaughter?

For a racially motivated fight brought on by the White Kids against Asian American Kids?

Really?

So let me get this shit straight. If you're a Person Of Color and you're defending yourself (and again we don't know what else was said or if those White Kids touched his sister in any way) you're not supposed to fight back?

You should just sit there and take it otherwise you might get a beat down by the local justice system?

Brian Godfrey, the head golf pro at the Long Beach Country Club where Mr. Malecek worked for a couple of summers, described him as a “golf rat.” “He could sit there and talk about golf forever,” Mr. Godfrey said [...]

But Mr. Godfrey, who has adopted two children from Guatemala said he had never seen any racism directed at his children or the Malecek youth in Long Beach. “Maybe other places, but here, never,” he said.

Yeah...sure.

Godfrey probably should have spent his money on a shiny new car to tout around versus his cute Kids Of Color because he apparently has no MF clue whatsoever.

I'm not sure it's going to make a difference - and who knows - it might actually hurt more if both companies don't actually listen to the new council but just tout them around as a trophy SO.

Maybe I'm just cynical though.

Here's to hoping?

As part of their drive to become industry leaders in diversity, Comcast and NBCUniversal have created an external Joint Diversity Council to advise their senior executive teams. The Joint Diversity Council held its first meeting in Philadelphia, where they were briefed on the Comcast and NBCUniversal diversity initiatives.

The Joint Diversity Council is comprised of four separate nine-member councils representing the interests of Asian Americans, African Americans, Hispanics and women. Additional council members represent the interests of veterans, Native Americans, people with disabilities and the lesbian /gay /bisexual /transgender (LGBT) community. The Joint Diversity Council held the first of its semi-annual meetings in Philadelphia in May.

Before the Comcast/NBCUniversal transaction closed in January, leaders from both companies created a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Asian American community that includes a number of commitments to increase the inclusion and participation of Asian Americans in the companies' corporate governance, workforce, supplier chain, programming and community investment. The Asian American Advisory Council will focus its guidance on executing Comcast's diversity initiatives, including the MOU with the Asian American community.

Karen K. Narasaki, president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), serves as chair of the Asian American Diversity Advisory Council, and Don H. Liu, senior vice president, general counsel and secretary of Xerox Corporation serves as vice chair.

I'm not saying anything about anything but it is kind of funny and interesting that on one hand we have Rep. David Wu who was quoted in the Northwest Asian Weekly as saying:

“I am deeply disturbed by the xenophobic implications of recent political ads that use China as a scapegoat to discuss the U.S. economy,” said Rep. David Wu, from Oregon. “Given our country’s dark history of anti-Chinese discrimination — from the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act to the racially-motivated murder of Vincent Chin exactly 100 years later — these fear-mongering ads have potentially dangerous consequences, especially for Asian Pacific Americans.

Because this is true.

We all know it.

And we need people like Wu to help bring attention to the growing anti-Chinese sentiment that can be easily mistaken for anti-Chinese American and anti-APIA sentiment.

Rep. David Wu, facing an accusation of an unwanted sexual encounter with an 18-year-old woman and a request for an investigation by the House Ethics Committee, will not seek re-election next year and was pondering whether he would complete his term, a spokesman for the Oregon Democrat said Monday.

In a letter sent Monday, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi requested the Ethics Committee investigation. The Oregonian, Wu's hometown newspaper, had reported that a California woman left a voicemail at Wu's office accusing him on an unwanted sexual encounter. Wu, 56, has said the encounter was consensual.

*sigh*

I'm just glad Congresswoman Judy Chu (the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus chairwoman) knows how to keep her legs crossed when around young tight bodied eighteen year-olds.

So I'll admit that I haven't watched all of this and I reserve the right to think anything about it whatsoever - and I'm not really sure - the "O Hai" thing kind of slowly annoys me right away as well as the "smosho pit a weekly" (that's the phonetic pronunciation thank you very much) - but who knows.

Maybe I just suck and get annoyed by random things that I shouldn't get annoyed by.

And isn't it wrong that I can't help but ask the question of why they decided to choose Mari and if they were just fueling WGAF?

That would be White Guy Asian Fetish if you were wondering which I've also decided should be pronounced as WTF (I reserve the right to possibly change this pronunciation).

Glenn Beck, who in June aired his final cable tv show on Fox News, is still on the radio and has found a new way to get his name into the headlines around the globe.

Instead of calling the president of the United States a racist, Beck focused on the scores of young people gunned down at a camp in Norway. Beck said the camp reminded him of Adolf Hitler's infamous Hitler Youth.

"There was a shooting at a political camp, which sounds a little like, you know, the Hitler youth. I mean, who does a camp for kids that's all about politics? Disturbing," Beck stated in the first minute of his syndicated radio show Monday.

On THE TIGER SONS, emcees D-One, Grand Master Chu, and Inglish continue to speak about the lives of young, modern, Asian-Americans with their signature wordplay. Humorous, self-deprecating, and thoughtful, they address a range of subjects from growing up in Asian-American households (Battle Hymn of the Tiger Sons), online romance (Twitter Girl), historical struggles against racism (Vincent Chin.), and drop bilingual party tracks like Xian Kan Kan Wo (a Mandarin cover of Chris Brown’s “Look At Me Now”) and Ooh It’s Just Genetic, Girl.

The lead single from THE TIGER SONS, Invisible People (Where’d You Go?), and its accompanying music video, are dedicated to those people whose voices and stories have been lost or ignored. With a music video shot in San Francisco, directed by Angela Yu, the song sees the three rappers speaking out against injustice in the classroom, courtroom, and media.

And you might as well pick up Tumblr while you're at it too (that would be Aziz is bored).

P.S.

If you're wondering about the use of the work fellatio than you'll have to watch the age restricted trailer which really isn't age restricted because anyone can put in any age they want so even if you're not quite of age you can still view it (but then I'd wonder why you're reading this blog when you have more fun things to do like actually getting a good CSCKING from someone you know - but then again I could ask that question of anyone reading this MF hack of a blog so fuck it).

All I have to say is thank you to the good people down at Visual Communications for not just putting this on (because that's the real thing) but for also telling a poor slob like about such things (because this week especially I've been living under a rock).

Visual Communications, the nation’s premier Asian Pacific American media arts organization, will launch “POW! WHIZ! BAM!,” its first Animation Mini-Film Festival August 6 in the Tateuchi Democracy Forum at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles. “POW! WHIZ! BAM!” features short films by local animators, the Los Angeles premiere of ICE, and a special screening of Trigun: Badlands Rumble.

The massively popular multi-day conventions of the likes of Comic Con and Anime Expo may seem “completely overwhelming and insane for some casual fans,” Festival Programmer Alexis Kim said. “POW! WHIZ! BAM! is very simple. We just wanted to focus on the love of toons, support and showcase our local talent, show some subversive discussion-starting films, and just have some summer fun!”

The Local Animators Spotlight, “The Art of Movement,” will feature a selection of short films exhibiting a diversity of styles including sand animation, kinestatic (stop-motion) animation, computer-generated animation, as well as cut-out and 2D computer animation. In-person artists and additional guests will participate in an interactive conversation about their work, including clips, storyboards, models and other materials, generating increased excitement for their craft.

“Animation is a stimulating and accessible means of creating a cross-cultural dialogue,” Director of Visual Communications Exhibition Programs Abraham Ferrer said. “It’s no secret that Asians are extremely underrepresented in the mainstream film industry, however animation is one of those special outliers in which Asians have had a profound global influence. It’s a genre that has truly become a well-traversed bridge between cultures.”

The program lineup for “POW! WHIZ! BAM!” includes:

SHORTS:

OUT ON A LIMB by Daisy LinA young bird is isolated from other birds that do not share its interest in searching for dandelions. [multi-media animation]

FATHER AND SISTER by Soyeon KimA chance occurrence between a father and a sister leads to a unique case of workplace temptation. [cut-out & 2D computer animation]

THE CAP (Topi) by Arjun RihanInspired by a true historical event in Pakistan, a violent communal riot at the train station separates a young boy, Bir, from his mother. Bir must find his mother before it's too late. [computer-generated animation]

FROG IN THE WELL (Ino Nakano Kawazu) by Ken OchiaiUnder his mother's wishes, Jo, a reclusive young tailor from Tokyo, journeys across Japan, discovering a country full of beauty and culture. Transforming like a frog climbing from a well Jo, opens himself up to a new world. [kinestatic (stop-motion) animation]

WHERE THERE HERE by Soyeon KimThis kid-friendly workout is a playful visualization of “Hide and Seek” using African pictorial design and tribal music. [sand animation]

AMAZONIA by Sam ChenIn the eat-or-be-eaten world of the Amazon Rainforest, a little tree frog named Bounce is befriended by a blue-bellied tree toad named Biggy. With Biggy’s help, Bounce must learn to survive the perils of the jungle. [computer-generated animation]

FEATURES:

ICE by Makoto KobayashiAn environmental crisis causes every male on earth to die by 2012, dividing the 20,000 surviving women into two groups: the hedonistic fatalists and those who believe science can save them. The two fight an intense battle over 'ICE,' an object said to be the last hope for humans. [cell & computer-generated animation]

TRIGUN: BADLANDS RUMBLE by Satoshi NishimuraVash the Stampede, a professional killer with a mysterious past, saves the life of the infamous robber named Gasback, setting off a chain of results with disastrous consequences. Flash forward 20 years, Vash has to deal with the repercussions. [cell & computer-generated animation]

The “POW! WHIZ! BANG!” Animation Mini-Film Festival is presented in association with the Japanese American National Museum. Films will be screened at the Tateuchi Democracy Forum in Little Tokyo at 111 North Central Avenue, Los Angeles. Parking for all programs in Little Tokyo is available at City Lot #7 (entrance adjacent to David Henry Hwang Theatre; enter at Judge John Aiso St.). All program selections are unrated; parental guidance suggested.

Single Screening Tickets starting July 16: $10 general admission, $8 students, senior, Visual Communications and JANM members. Early Bird Special Festival Pass starting July 11-15: $20 general admission, $15 students, senior, Visual Communications and JANM members. Festival Pass starting July 16: $25 general admission, $20 students, senior, Visual Communications and JANM members. Tickets are available online at vconline.tix.com or at the door. All proceeds will benefit the year-round education initiatives of Visual Communications.

Established in 1970, Visual Communications is the nation’s premier Asian Pacific American media arts organization and is dedicated to the honest and accurate portrayals of Asian Pacific American peoples, communities and heritage through the media arts. Visual Communication promotes intercultural understanding through the creation, presentation, preservation and support of media works by and about Asian Pacific Americans. Every spring, it presents the prestigious Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.

Visual Communications is funded in part by the Aratani Foundation, California Community Foundation, Getty Foundation, James Irvine Foundation, Japan Foundation, Japanese American community Services (JACS), Sony, Takahashi Foundation, National Film Preservation Fund APCF, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, National Endowment for the Arts, Academy Foundation, Union Bank, National Endowment for the Arts Recovery Act Grant, VC Stakeholders and corporate and community supporters.

For more information contact Visual Communications (info@vconline.org or (213) 680-4462) or visit www.vconline.org. You may also visit “POW! WHIZ! BAM!” Facebook Event Page by searching for “POW! WHIZ! BAM! VC’s First Animation Mini-Film Fest” or follow Visual Communications on Twitter at www.twitter.com/vconline.

When I was watching the news coverage of the Rupert Murdoch meltdown (maybe spiraling downward is a better word) I wondered who that Asian woman was behind him - and then I remembered - and then I threw up a little more in my mouth because really - she actually fucks him?

Yes she does (at least I'm guessing they give it the old college try).

Yao, with teary eyes at times and dressed in an equally somber black suit, closed the book Wednesday on his eight-year career with the Houston Rockets, conceding that injuries finally got the best of him.

5-on-5: Sizing Up Yao

How does Yao Ming measure up as his career comes to an end? The 5-on-5 crew explores his legacy -- and what might have been if not for injuries. Story• Yao vs. NBA's greatest Insider• Yao leaves hole in Rockets' D Insider

"My past six months were an agonizing wait. I had been thinking (about my future) over and over," the 30-year-old Yao said in comments translated into English. "Today I am announcing a personal decision: ending my career as a basketball player and officially retire. But one door is closing and another one is opening."

Yao said he would return to work with his former Chinese team, the Shanghai Sharks, with the possibility of becoming general manager. He already owns the club and wants to contribute more.

"My playing career started with the club. I hope I can do something for it," Yao said.

Yao's wife, Ye Li, and their 14-month-old daughter, Yao Qinlei, and Yao's parents, Yao Zhiyuan and Fang Fengdi, were in the room. Qinlei was dressed in a red qipao, a traditional Chinese dress.

He later appeared with his family on the stage to the applause and cheers of the crowd.

Qwest Sucks Ass. And even though I'm only blogging half-time there's nothing worse than wanting to feed the need and then you can't...sure there are coffee shops and friends cable, but somehow...paying for something that doesn't always work kind of spoils the mood (and yes, somehow I think that will be telling down the line).

I'm not really sure what else to tell you to get your ass on down to this event other than the fact that if you're single (or maybe not - but that's none of my business) that who knows - you might just meet the militant, soft spoken, grungy, semi spiffed up love of your life.

But that's only if you need another incentive to go this already incredibly sounding kick ass event.

The Asian Pacific Islander American Spoken Word Poetry Summit 2011 takes place in the Twin Cities August 4-7! It is a biennial gathering of Asian Pacific Islander American community artists and activists.

The Summit is a space intended specifically for artists and activists who self-identify as Asian American, Asian, and/or Pacific Islander. These definitions are inclusive of West Asian (Middle Eastern), South Asian, LGBTT and Multi-Racial peoples.

You do NOT have to be a spoken word artist to register! If you are an APIA community member who is interested in arts and activism, you'll love the Summit.

Registration is required for all events except Saturday's show, which we will sell public tickets for. *But* if you register, the cost includes *all* Summit events including Saturday's big show!

Here's what the $25 registration gets you:

*Admission to all three Summit showcases*Admission to all Summit workshops and plenaries*Admission to the two after-parties featuring food, wine and beer cash bar, and music by DJ Nak!

This activity funded, in part, by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.

P.S.

Don't blame me if you don't find that love of your life - and especially don't blame me if you don't get your tickets.

P.S (x2)

And if you do find someone who you thought was the love of your life but they really weren't and you just got a case of the Oh My God I Can't Believe I Fell For That Line And Even Though It Was Pretty Good It Wasn't Worth A Trip To The Clinic - well - that's not my issue either.

This goes way beyond the small, crumbly packages of hot pot noodles that kept you going through college. Ramen is cooking in the minds of chefs and eaters alike.

So what better time than now to throw the first ramen-off in the Twin Cities, and help the native land that inspires the dish? On Thursday, July 21st a gaggle of local chefs will come together at the Create Catering Dining Studio with their own signature ramen dish to be sampled by eaters and judged by a panel of experts in the hopes of earning Top Ramen honors. Of course we have Masu and moto-i competing, but can Russell Klein of Meritage and Jack Riebel of Dakota crank out the goods? Let's face it, ramen/noodle soups have long been the late-night sustenance for many chefs and most are just itching for a reason to cook something new.

Tickets cost $10 (can be purchased through the web or at the door) and guarantee admission and one bowl of ramen, while additional bowls and beer/beverages may be purchased at the event. Proceeds will benefit the food shelves of Second Harvest Japan, which have no affiliation to the American organization. Instead, they are on their own and facing insurmountable need as the devastation from the earthquake and tsunami continues to be felt, even as their plight has disappeared from the media spotlight.

WHAT: Eat Ramen/Help Japan: Ramen-off! Come sample chef-created ramen dishes and see what's evolving in the world of noodles. Local chefs will sample their signature ramen, created with ramen donated by Sun Noodle, in an effort to win bragging rights and a fabulously crafty ramen crown. DJ Nak will help set the tone, "Norae Time" karaoke and a Snapz Photobooth will be there for kicks and giggles. Beer/beverages will be available for purchase.

Tickets can be purchased ahead of time from the website or at the door. Cost is $10 for entrance, which guarantees one bowl of ramen. Additional bowls may be purchased at the event.

WHY: Second Harvest Japan is struggling to meet the need of the families affected by the tsunami. It is our goal to help feed those in Japan with a $5,000 donation from funds raised by this event.

I'll admit that in some ways I do actually like the Transformers - big action + robots who turn into machines = letting my mind slip away into a non-work related food like coma - but I don't understand - and I never will - why movies decidedly insert racist speak and stereotypes into films that would be altogether the same without them.

1. Keiko Agena who plays Frances McDormand's aide speaks one line in the whole movie. I actually let out a loud noise of surprise when I heard her finally speak because I just expected her to run around and follow her White Boss just like she did in the whole film leading up to it (and compare that with John Turturro's assistant who plays a much larger role in the film and at least has some character).

2. A scene in the film where a worker who happens to be a woman is referred too as a "Latin Meltdown". Really?

3. At the place where Shia LaBeouf ends up working there's a floor called the "Yellow Floor". John Malkovich's character who runs the place is apparently into martial arts - all of which says White Guy loving the "Asian", but failing to see that calling something the "Yellow Floor" is kind of dumbass.

4. When Shia LaBeouf is interviewing for jobs, he bows to the Asian interviewer and also can't pronounce his name. This is the only person he can't seem to do this with. Nor does he bow to anyone else. It's like someone saying "Hello" and shaking hands to all the White People in the room but then when they meet a Black Guy goes for the fist pump and says "What's Up!".

5. In an elevator at LaBeouf's character's place of work one of the Asian American workers is drinking some milk (from an Asian store we're guessing) and someone says something to the effect of "Stop drinking that exotic milk". That's just old and tired.

6. And then there's Ken Jeong who's character in some ways I didn't mind, but on a whole basically spelled: traitor to the country + creepy + homophobic.

When I was at the movies over the weekend, for some reason I saw this gigantic poster for a film called "The Help" and automatically - without knowing anything about it - just thought the following (and yes, I know it's judgmental, but hey - I'm a dictator - that's what dictators do):

I'm betting this film has something to do about race relations back in the day between African American women and the White women they worked for and I wondered why the Women Of Color seem to be taking up less space on the movie poster than the Women Who Aren't Of Color -- especially assuming that in some way the film is supposed to be a lesson about race and power (because change starts with a whisper).

In Case You Were Wondering I Did In Fact Check This Film Out (Sort Of ...)

Film Synopis

Aibileen Clark (Viola Davis) is a middle-aged African-American maid who has spent her life raising white children and has recently lost her only son; Minny Jackson (Octavia Spencer) is an African-American maid who has often talked back to her employers, leading to being fired multiple times and causing her to have difficulty finding work; Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan (Emma Stone) is a young white woman who has recently moved back home after graduating from the University of Mississippi to find that her beloved childhood maid has mysteriously disappeared. These three stories intertwine to explain how life in Jackson, Mississippi revolves around "the help"; yet despite the intimate quarters in which whites and blacks live, there is always a certain distance between them because of racial lines.

Book Synopsis

Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step.

Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.

Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.

Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.

Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.

In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women--mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends--view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don't.

All of which still leads me to ask the same question that I did in the first place.

Caught this down at YOMYOMF and wanted to post a snippet of it up here.

I was in an audition for a big franchise film when the casting director who happened to be Asian sheepishly asked me, “Could you…did you see the note about doing it with an Asian accent?” She was a little apologetic and I detected her discomfort for having to put me in what she assumed was an uncomfortable situation. I’m not an actor who is uncomfortable with doing accents, but I have an Asian American actor friend who would have said, “Absolutely not.” It got me thinking, are we equating Asian accents with stereotypes because there’s a communal shame surrounding our lack of diverse representation for Asian Americans? When I appear on panels about AAs in the media, I’m almost always asked if we are moving away from stereotypical Asian characters, such as accented ones, and I’m torn because I want to say, there’s nothing wrong with accented characters. It’s how you portray them.

I don't even know much about this other than what's below - and I already can't wait to see it.

I'm kinda guessing it's got your attention too.

White Frog LLC announced today that its original young adult drama White Frog has cast The Twilight Saga’s Booboo Stewart to star in the leading role. Stewart will play Nick, a neglected teen with mild Asperger’s syndrome whose life is challenged and ultimately affirmed by the unexpected fate of his adored older brother Chaz, played by Harry Shum Jr. (Glee). Joan Chen (The Last Emperor) and BD Wong (Law and Order: SVU) are confirmed to play the roles of their parents. Margaret Cho (Drop Dead Diva) will play the role of Nick’s unconventional psychiatrist.

Quentin Lee (The People I’ve Slept With) directs from an original script by Fabienne Wen and Ellie Wen on which David Henry Hwang served as Script Advisor. White Frog is produced by Christopher Lee, Joel Soisson, and Ellie Wen along with Executive Producers Kevin Iwashina and David Henry Hwang.

White Frog is an emotional young adult drama with comedy and heart about Nick, a neglected teen with mild Asperger’s syndrome, whose life is challenged and ultimately affirmed by the unexpected fate of his adored older brother Chaz. White Frog is a universal story of the power of family, friendship, and love positioned to appeal to a broad audience in the same way as Ordinary People, Joy Luck Club, and The Kids Are All Right.

Fellowship Cultivates New Generation of Asian Pacific American Filmmakers Applications Due July 29th

Visual Communications is now accepting applications for its 10th annual Armed With a Camera Fellowship. The fellowship fosters the education, training and professional development of up-and-coming Asian Pacific American filmmakers. In doing so, it seeks to shed light on the experiences of communities traditionally underrepresented by visual media.

The fellowship is open to filmmakers under 30-years-old of Asian Pacific descent. South Asian, Southeast Asian and women filmmakers are strongly encouraged to apply. From November 2011 to March 2012 Visual Communications will provide the support and resources for ten fellows to each to create a five-minute digital video.

These resources will include:

$500 cash grant

Training, workshops and mentoring from industry professionals

Opportunity for collaborative work with other fellows

Access to equipment and editing facilities

World premiere of completed film in the “VC Digital Posse” showcase of the 2012 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival

All-access pass to films, panels and events of the 2012 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival

Opportunity to network with professional filmmakers and Visual Communications staff and supporters

In the past decade, Visual Communications has supported 70 filmmakers through the fellowship. Last year’s portfolio represents a characteristic diversity of topics. One documentary traces the disappearance of a Filipino-American R&B star. Another tells the emigration story of a filmmaker’s Vietnamese father. Several narrative works explore family relationships. In one, a South Asian lesbian woman spends the Hindu New Year with her partner. In another, a Japanese woman questions her marriage to an American. Settings range from a World War II battlefield in France to a sci-fi future.

The Armed with a Camera Fellowship is partially funded by the James Irvine Foundation, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, and the Morgan Stanley Foundation.

About Visual Communications: Founded in 1970, Visual Communications has a long and prominent history promoting intercultural understanding through the creation, presentation, preservation and support of media works by and about Asian Pacific Americans.

The Filipino American Arts Exposition is inviting talented up-and-coming artists to grace its stages and perform for an enormous crowd at its 18th Annual Pistahan Parade and Festival.

Pistahan is proud to have presented numerous renowned and emerging talent including Apl.de.Ap of the Black Eyed Peas, Cheryl Burke of Dancing with the Stars fame, and local favorites like the Likha Dance Ensemble.

The 18th Annual Pistahan Parade and Festival will be held on Aug. 13-14 at the Yerba Buena Gardens.The free two-day event will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is expected to draw over 60,000 people and will feature the best of Filipino art, dance, music and food. The festival features the return of the popular Adobo Cook-off and balut eating contests, delectable Filipino cuisine and desserts, and cultural exhibits.

Even though it's a Wednesday...but since I had off the last two days it really is a Monday - but tomorrow will still feel like a Thursday because it's buffet night at the local club and no matter what anyone tells you I have never found a pubic hair in the foot long hot dog buffet.

Beatrock Music and In4mation are proud to present Prometheus Brown and Bambu Walk Into A Bar. Pro Brown and Bam joined forces during a week-long visit to Hawaii to create an album that pays homage to the islands. Laced with beats by local Hawaiian producers and rounded out by some of LA and Seattle's most talented beatsmiths, this album promises to knock!

Tracklist:

1. Fuck Dog the Bounty Hunter - produced by Osna2. At It Again - produced by MTK3. Nowhere – produced by DJ Nphared4. Mahalo – produced by Just D’Amato5. National Treasure – produced by Vitamin D6. The Bar – produced by Vitamin D7. Molotov Tiki Torch Cocktail Rap – produced by 6Fingers8. Lookin Up – produced by Fatgums9. Rashida Jones – produced by Budo10. Slow Down [Yavash Remix] – produced by Sabzi

Enemies of the People has its national broadcast premiere on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, at 10 p.m. on PBS during the 24th season of POV (Point of View) (check local listings). American television's longest-running independent documentary series, POV has won a Special Emmy for Excellence in Television Documentary Filmmaking and an IDA Award for Best Continuing Series.

Vietnamese dissident author Tran Khai Thanh Thuy met Friday with a US congressman active on human rights, days after she was released from prison in a rare move by the Hanoi government.

Representative Ed Royce, whose district in California's Orange County has a large Vietnamese American community, met there with Thuy and said they discussed strategies for advancing rights in the communist country.

"Tran Khai Thanh Thuy has been leading the fight for democracy and human rights in Vietnam. She has paid a great price, including physical assault by communist government thugs," Royce said in a statement.

"Her release is great news for Vietnamese Americans and all committed to freedom," Royce said.

Thuy was sentenced to three and a half years in prison in February 2010 on an assault charge, which she said during her one-day trial was "a fabrication and total slander."

2008 Year In Review

If you're looking for the 2008 In Review Posts, the link list has been moved out, but you can still get to them all by following this link which pulls them up by label (they'll be in reverse so go to the oldest post to read them in order).

2007 In Review Posts

If you're looking for the 2007 In Review Posts, the link list has been moved out, but you can still get to them all by following this link which pulls them up by label (they'll be in reverse so go to the oldest post to read them in order).

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